Thanksgiving Dinner is Served

by Adam Teitlebaum, Volunteer

On-Call Runner

Volunteers preparing Thanksgiving Dinner at Martin Deporres

We are very fortunate in San Francisco to have an army of Volunteers that prepares and distributes food to our estimated 7,000 homeless population and additional under served populations. At Thanksgiving, Food Runners volunteers double their efforts to provide some of our city’s finest foods to these communities.

Fraternite Notre Dame serving Thanksgiving Dinner in Civic Center Plaza

 Food Runners is among the vanguard in this holiday effort, coordinating, distributing and serving food citywide, for this year’s Thanksgiving. In an annual tradition for the past 6 years, on Thanksgiving eve, SusieCakes in the Marina donates all  their surplus pies and unsold baked goods to Food Runners.  Food Runners volunteers, in turn, picks up the donation and delivers it to Veteran’s Academy in the Presidio. The SusieCakes Thanksgiving Eve pick up is one of the most sought after Food Runs of the year amongst Food Runners Volunteers. This year, SusieCakes will be also be donating a similar lot on Thanksgiving Eve from their newly opened shop in the SalesForce Tower. Also on Thanksgiving eve, Food Runners delivers donated baked goods from Noe Valley Bakery to Martin DePorres.  This is an annual tradition that's been going on for more than 15 years.

Typical SusieCakes Thanksgiving Eve donation

I know that collecting food for Food Runners has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. Seeing the gratitude on the faces of folks receiving the food is the reward that makes me want to do even more.

The City Eats flyer for their Thanksgiving Day food and amenities distribution

 Among the nonprofits providing and serving food at Thanksgiving this year are:

• Glide Memorial Church in the Tenderloin  serves  1100 for brunch and  2400 for dinner on Thanksgiving Day.
• St. Anthony's Dining Room in the Tenderloin serves  a traditional Thanksgiving meal to 4,000 on Thanksgiving day.
• St Vincent DePaul Multi Purpose Center in SOMA  serves 1,000 meals on Thanksgiving Day.  
• Fraternite Notre Dame in the heart of the Tenderloin serves a traditional Thanksgiving meal on Tuesday in Civic Center Plaza  and another full Thanksgiving meal  the Wednesday before Thanksgiving at their dining room in the Tenderloin, 700-800 total. 
• Martin DePorres in the Mission serves 300 people on Thanksgiving Day.
• City Team in the 6th Street Corridor  serves a traditional meal the day before Thanksgiving.  They serve 450 meals at three seatings, Noon, 1PM and 2PM.
• Mother Brown's Dining Room in Bayview serves 500 meals on Thanksgiving Day.
• City Impact  in the Tenderloin serves Thanksgiving Day. 4,000-5,000 meals.
• The Lima Center at St. Dominic's Church at serves a full, traditional Thanksgiving Dinner to approximately 75 homeless clients on the Wednesday  before Thanksgiving. 
• The City Eats volunteers prepare, assemble and package individual Thanksgiving meals for distribution to those living on the streets.  City Eats provides individual hygiene kits along with the meals.